Lothar Matthäus knows a thing or two about success on the international stage, having won the 1990 FIFA World Cup as Germany captain. Now a television pundit in his homeland, the former Ballon d’Or winner has shared his thoughts on the start of Jürgen Klopp’s reign as head coach of the national team.
In particular, Matthäus, who is also Germany’s all-time record appearance-maker, expressed his enthusiasm for this extended international break and believes that Klopp is the right man for the job.
Bundesliga: Rarely has a country been so looking forward to UEFA Nations League games, but Klopp‘s appointment has people intrigued. What are you expecting from their first four games? And what does Klopp need to do differently to his predecessors?
Lothar Matthäus: “Jürgen Klopp will be Jürgen Klopp, meaning he will not worry about what those before him did, whether right or wrong. He will find his own way, which he has demonstrated at his press conferences so far. They were dynamic, and he made his demands clear.
New faces for Jürgen Klopp’s Germany
“All of the above is why he was probably the first and only candidate the DFB looked at for the role. He doesn’t necessarily need to do anything different to his predecessors, he just needs to get things right. In terms of the tone, he has already brought back what others had perhaps lost.”
Bundesliga: What sets Klopp apart?
Matthäus: “With Klopp, every player knows where he stands, for better or for worse. For example, he called Deniz Undav, as well as Oliver Baumann, to let them know why they were not called up. Players value knowing why they weren’t selected, even if they don’t want to hear it.
“At least they know the reasons behind the decision. And Jürgen also told the players who are involved: ‘I want to see what you’ve got. You have the quality and can help take German football back to the top, where it belongs’.”
Klopp welcomes first Germany squad
“Jürgen has a lot of experience, and was successful at Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool and Mainz. Down the years, he has also built up a reputation and has a lot of self-confidence, which radiates from him to the point that it should rub off on the team. I trust him completely.”
Bundesliga: When you look at the two squads, are there any names that you look at and think, “I’m happy to see him called up”?
Matthäus: “I’d need an hour just to name them all. In my opinion, all the players have shown what they’re capable of and what qualities they possess, and Jürgen is not only thinking about the here and now. He’s thinking about the future of Germany football. That’s why so many young players were given the nod, because they perhaps bring something to the table that the older players don’t.”
Bundesliga: One of the players included is Nathaniel Brown, who made the switch to Bayern Munich in the summer. How versatile and mature is he already?
Matthäus: “He showed it both at Eintracht Frankfurt and at the World Cup. He didn’t disappoint, rather he performed well before going down with the rest of the team. You can’t expect such a young player to lead the team straight away. He’s obviously very versatile.
“We’ve seen that at Bayern, but I see him primarily as a left-back. He has frequently played that position as part of a back three. However, I can see him there in a back four at Bayern too thanks to his speed and attacking qualities. As a result, he’s able to provide a great deal of attacking impetus.”
Bayern move ‘really special’ – Brown
Bundesliga: Another player who has enjoyed a great start to the season is Younes Ebnoutalib, already scoring four goals…
Matthäus: “By naming these squads, Klopp has shown he wants to get to know the boys. It’s therefore a big call to name 44 players and pick two squads. That means that all the young players can be close to the head coach, who is also a newbie in this role, for nine days each. Also, when a striker scores goals, he is a good option for the national team as long as he has a German passport. In that context, his call-up is no surprise.”
Bundesliga: Last Saturday, you were at the stadium as VfB Stuttgart hosted Bundesliga leaders Dortmund in a huge clash. How do you think BVB will get on this season?
Lothar Matthäus: “I believe that Dortmund are good enough to finish at least second in the Bundesliga table. That’s the minimum, I would say. Internally, though, they have bigger objectives. They want to win trophies. Even when things have not always worked well for Dortmund in recent years, guaranteeing second place has always been the goal.
Best of Younes Ebnoutalib
“However, they also want to go one step further, but above them is the Bayern juggernaut. This season, I think it’s still a bit early for Dortmund to make that next step. Nevertheless, they currently sit two points ahead of Bayern and they deserve it.”
Bundesliga: Niko Kovač has the best points per game ratio of any Dortmund head coach in Bundesliga history after 50 games, as well as the most wins. Do you think he is underrated?
Matthäus: “He’s now been at Dortmund for close to two years. He first led BVB from 10th to fourth, and then finished second last season. For me, Niko was a great find for Dortmund from the very start. I know his personality, his competitiveness, and his attitude towards football.
“People are maybe expecting Dortmund to play like Bayern, but that’s not how Niko does things. In the summer, there was major upheaval once more. Several leaders left the club and were replaced by youngsters who bring different qualities to the team.
“There was the fantastic attacking display against Hamburg, the comeback versus Hoffenheim, the comfortable victory over Paderborn, as well as three points against a fellow UEFA Champions League side…”
Bundesliga: What are the reasons behind their current success?
Matthäus: “Even when the football is not always spectactular, Niko is able to get across to his team exactly what is important in each game. Defeats will happen, but Niko will not only try to make his team better, but also wants to get better himself, despite his experience. The point is, the team is currently delivering the type of football they are capable of. And, in my opinion, Niko is behind it.”
